- Present
- Cllrs C. Hamilton (Chair), D. Botterell (Deputy Chair), T. Spong, G. Foster, K. Millar, K. Green, L. Fitzpatrick, V Cauvain and J. Beady. Also in attendance were 9 members of the public.
Apologies
No apologies were received.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th February 2025 were proposed by Cllr Botterell, seconded by Cllr Millar and it was Resolved: To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17th February 2025 as an accurate record of proceedings.
Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations.
Clerk’s Report
The Clerk presented the previously circulated report attached as Appendix A. All Councillors confirmed they had read the report and there were no questions.
Public Participation
The Chair invited the members of public in attendance to raise any questions/issues.
- No issues raised by Members of the Public
Tendring District and Essex County Councils
- TDC Cllr Harris: was not present
- EALC Cllr Land: was not present
First Aid Training
Clerk informed that Cllr Beady and Cllr Hamilton will be attending training on Thursday 17th April so we are not currently looking at hosting our own First Aid course due to the complexity of getting everyone available at the same time.
Telephone Box
We have the Phone Box now and Cllr Harris is liaising on our behalf with TDC to see if we can find an area to place it. We are hoping to put the box where the previous telephone box was at the corner of The Street and Hilltop Crescent.
VE Day Update
Cllr Hamilton updated as follows. The Flagpole is now delivered and awaiting installation. There are now 20 stall holders and a Pie and Mash van. Bunting has arrived and the banner will go up this week. There are 2 volunteers apart from members of the Parish Council volunteers willing to help out. There will be quality raffle prizes. Cllr Hamilton wanted to thank Cllr Fitzpatrick for her work on the Risk Assessment.
Complaints Procedure
Cllr Botterell proposed and Cllr Cauvain seconded the policy and it was Resolved: to adopt the previously circulated Complaints Procedure.
Memorial Bench
Cllr Hamilton spoke about a memorial bench for the recreation ground to commemorate Mike Brown. Clerk will investigate options and report back to Council. Action: Clerk
Hosting of Planning Meeting for Community
Cllr Hamilton notified the community that the Parish Council will be hosting a community meeting with Gary Guiver and Peter Harris in attendance to discuss and explain the latest planning updates from TDC and to help residents respond to the current consultation. It was noted that this would take place in the Village Hall from 6pm to 7pm on Wednesday April 2nd.
Correspondence
- TDC Housing Policy changes explained. Council decided not to comment
- Clerk explained the rises in Planning Application charges.
- Members of Public (MOP) and Councillors were advised to comment on the Tendring Local Plan consultation
Planning Applications
Council Members considered the applications set out in Appendix B and determined as shown.
Finance and Budget
The list of monthly payments was proposed by Cllr Botterell and seconded by Cllr Cauvain and it was Resolved: To approve the list of payments set out in Appendix C.
Weeley Parish Council Reports
- Street Lighting: Cllr Green reported a damaged lamp post by Weeley Caravan Park. He will provide the number so we can have it repaired.
- Tree Warden: Nothing to report
- Playing Field: Nothing to report
- Children’s Play Area: Nothing to report
- Highways: Cllr Beady presented her report which is available on the Council’s website
- Footpaths: Nothing to report
- Transport: Cllr Millar provided a link for a petition to provide free bus travel countrywide to all over 60s. https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/150983136/signed
- TDALC: Cllr Botterell noted no meeting since the last report
Other Reports
- Rural Policing: Cllr Hamilton reported 19 crimes in January.
- Speedwatch: Cllr. Beady presented her report which is published on the Council’s website.
- Weeley Residents Ass: presented their report which is available on the Council’s Website.
- Weeley in Bloom (WiB): presented their report which is available on the Council website and mentioned the Community Litter Pick on Thursday 20th at 10am.
- Petanque Rink: apologies received from Petanque representative.
Public Participation
A MOP asked about cameras by the station and it was noted that Cllr Botterell is dealing with this during this week.
VE Day Risk Assessment
Cllr Hamilton moved this item to after the closure of the meeting so that MOPs could stay or leave for the Council’s walkthrough of this document as it was not meeting business. Action: Clerk to buy two code padlocks, check the insurance and arrange for grass to be cut the week before
Items to be Added to the Next Agenda
- Telephone Box
- Weeley Bypass
- Insurance
- CCTV Upgrade
- Spinney
The Chair closed the meeting at 20.11pm.
Date of Next Meeting will be: Tuesday 22nd April at 7.30pm at Weeley Village Hall
Clerk's Report – 17th March 2025
| Topic | Action/issue | Information | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scout Hut | Prepare a new lease. | Have initiated a chat with a new solicitor from Sparlings and have sent a copy of the lease to them. Awaiting response before contacting the Scouts. It is proposed to make the lease 35 years. Estimate received for creating a new lease but also with some information for the Scouts to be passed onto them. Scouts have now appointed representation. | Scouts have returned the Lease to their solicitor and we have updated our Solicitor. Now awaiting further response |
| Weeley bypass | Determine options for the avenue of poplars | The Clerk has agreed to contact ECC Place Services to chase for a firm proposal including numbers and species of trees to plant. | Email received from ECC Place Services with suggestions. Postponing until March meeting as December meeting is very busy currently. |
| Reed Pond | Initiate Management Plan |
|
Lifebuoy to be moved when flagpole erected. |
| Investigate new Playground Equipment | Research | Contacted Kompan regarding a larger slide and they will site visit and give us estimates | Will seek further quotes, but, no rush on this item |
| Quarterly Bank Reconciliations | Adopt this policy to reconcile quarterly | To be signed by a Cllr who is not the Chair or signatory. | Q3 reconciliation done by Cllr Millar. Q4 to be done in March |
| Playground Inspections | No evidence of inspections undertaken despite them happening | Clerk will investigate software to help with this as long as the relevant Cllrs agree and cost agreed | Software setup. Now need to show councillors how to use. Will arrange meeting with James Dunne of PSS |
| Asset Register | Review Asset Register | Noted that Asset Register should be reviewed for obsolete items and to update actual replacements costs rather than book cost. Suggested that a limit is set for assets to be added (i.e £200 if this is the excess) | Cllr Fitzpatrick will assist the clerk with this activity. Clerk to liaise with Cllr Fitzpatrick and define this. No progress. Possibly use Playground software if adopted to load assets |
| Accounts Exceed | Accounts exceed FSCS limit of £85000 | Council to decide whether to open additional bank accounts to ensure full cover for monies. All banking arrangements to be reviewed | Cllr Cauvain to be added – forms sent to Cllr Cauvain for signature. Transfer of funds from Barclays account to be done |
| Fencing at Spinney | Gather quotes to protect Spinney in Weeley Heath from Encroachment | Clerk to gather quotes for fencing at the Spinney | No progress – 3 quotes to be sought |
| To create a Read Only Facebook presence | Clerk to work with Cllr Cauvain to set this up and define a policy document | Policy amended to reflect WPC once adopted FB to be created in conjunction with Cllr Cauvain | |
| Flagpole at Reed Pond | Research a flagpole for VE Day commemorations. | Clerk to find quotations for a Fibre Glass Flagpole of 4.6 metres to be installed ready for the VE Day commemorations of 5th May 2025. | Flagpole has arrived and is ready for install. |
| Playing Field | Look into changing policy of hiring field for commercial enterprises | Due to more commercial type hiring request it should be that the Parish Council can charge for these types of field use. | Look into changing policy and charging for commercial uses of the field. Different charging for different sizes of field use. No progress |
Planning Applications for Month to 17th March 2025
| Application No. | Details | Address | Comment/Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25/00254/FULHH | Householder Planning Application - Single storey front and rear extensions | 37 Colchester Road Weeley Clacton On Sea Essex | No comments |
| 25/00296/WTPO | Works related to Tree Preservation Order (93/00018/TPO) 1 No. (T1) Reduce oak tree by stables. 1 No. (T2) Reduce declining Oak tree by 5 metres to lower growth. | 53 Mill Lane Weeley Heath Clacton On Sea Essex | Email Clive Dawson regarding this application as these trees were reduced recently. Object on this basis |
| 25/00307/LBC | Application for Listed Building Consent - Rear parallel range extension. Demolition of non-original bathroom outshot/catslide extension to create a low-level Ground Floor connection. Replacement of non-original windows with heritage style double glazed timber alternatives. Internal alterations include erection of a new partition to form a bathroom on the first floor. One and a half storey extension to include gable walls, timber framed sliding doors, 2 dormer windows. | Dale Brow Thorpe Road Weeley Clacton On Sea | Object based on complete change of character of a listed building and its visibility from the road which would not be in keeping with the current view of this building Also the size of the extension seems to almost double the size of the existing building which again is not in keeping with the current view of the listed building. |
| 25/00271/FULHH | Householder Planning Application - conversion of garage to annex with raising of roof to facilitate a first floor | 1 Barnfields Clacton Road Weeley Heath Clacton On Sea | As per previous application object due to over development of this area with specific access and parking issues |
| 25/00419/TELLIC | Installation of electronic communications apparatus/development ancillary to radio equipment housing. | Land adjacent Church Lane Off Clacton Road Weeley Essex | Just noted by council as no comments invited |
Planning Determinations
| Application No. and determination | Proposal | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 25/00046/NMA Approval Non Material Amendment 17.02.2025 Delegated Decision |
Non Material Amendment to 22/00979/DETAIL - Narrowing of one road and provide more landscaping. Replacement of mini-roundabout with a T-junction. Change of house type to plot 225. Rearrangement of parking opposite plot 166. Minor elevational changes. | Mr Will Vote - Rose Builders Ltd Land to The South of Thorpe Road, Weeley, Essex, CO16 9AJ |
| 24/00995/ADV Appeal Decision - Dismissed |
Application for Advertisement Consent - erection of a D6 small format Advertising Display. | Colchester Road Weeley Clacton On Sea Essex CO16 9AD |
| 25/00148/WTPO Approval - Full 27.02.2025 Delegated Decision |
Works related to Tree Preservation Order (96/00002/TPO) - Oak Tree - 30% reduction. | Holly House Roxburghe Road Weeley Essex CO16 9DU |
| 25/00192/WTPO Approval - Full 07.03.2025 Delegated Decision |
Works related to Tree Preservation Order (93/00018/TPO) - 1 No. (T1) Oak - to reduce by 40%. 1 No. (T2) Oak - to remove dead wood. 1 No. (T3) Oak - to pollard. 1 No. (T4) Oak - to Fell. | 53 Mill Lane Weeley Heath Clacton On Sea Essex CO16 9BZ |
Payments March 2025
| Invoice Date | Invoice No. | Cheque No. | Payee | Service | NET (£) | VAT (£) | GROSS (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/02/2025 | DD | Barclays | Overdraft Interest | £1.23 | £0.00 | £1.23 | |
| 18/03/2025 | Current (UB) | EHAAT | Grant to Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust | £250.00 | £0.00 | £250.00 | |
| 27/02/2025 | SI-20520 | Current (UB) | AD Mitchell Electrical Contractors | Fix street light 9084 | £239.00 | £47.80 | £286.80 |
| 28/02/2025 | INV-0758 | Current (UB) | Goldacre Contracting | Hedge Cutting Kempton Park | £210.00 | £42.00 | £252.00 |
| 13/03/2025 | INV-0762 | Current (UB) | Goldacre Contracting | 1st Cut Reed Pond/Verges/Field | £459.00 | £91.80 | £550.80 |
| 17/03/2025 | Current (UB) | Steve Gunter | Clerks March Pay | £846.23 | £0.00 | £846.23 | |
| 18/03/2025 | Current (UB) | Essex Pension Scheme | Clerks Pension (March) | £266.82 | £0.00 | £266.82 | |
| 28/02/2025 | DD | Unity Bank | Monthly Charges | £4.84 | £0.00 | £4.84 | |
| 06/03/2025 | Inv 16541 | Current (UB) | Windsock Company Limited | 4.6 metre Fibre Glass Flagpole | £533.00 | £106.60 | £639.60 |
| 04/03/2025 | Weeley 0505 | Current (UB) | Miss S J E White | The Harmonettes (VE Day) | £275.00 | £0.00 | £275.00 |
| 07/03/2025 | DD | Castle Water | Reed Pond Water Bill | £6.45 | £0.00 | £6.45 | |
| 11/03/2025 | 288 | Current (UB) | Imaginations Marquee Hire | Marquee (VE Day) | £940.00 | £0.00 | £940.00 |
| 16/03/2025 | 250301 | Current (UB) | Debbie Millar School of Dance | First Aid Course (Cllr Beady / Hamilton) | £150.00 | £0.00 | £150.00 |
Totals: NET £4,181.57, VAT £288.20, GROSS £4,469.77
Barclays Bank balances as at 17 March 2025; current account £1314.85; deposit account £114388.46 - doubled the amount in current account to cover Npower for 2 months due to issue with their auto debit system
Unity Bank balances as at 17 March 2025; current account £4502.66
Receipts
| Payee | Amount | Description | Account | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMRC | £1,838.04 | VAT Return HMRC | Barclays Community Account | 07/03/2025 |
| EALC | £225 | Bursary Cllr Beady | Barclays Community Account | 10/03/2025 |
| Interest | £442.24 | Interest | Barclays Business Account | 03/03/2025 |